Bruce Jorgensen, counsel on record for the anonymous plaintiffs, notified the U.S. District Court for the NMI and the attorneys representing different parties in the case that “John Doe” is withdrawing himself as a party and will be replaced by David Price, who used to be a governor’s legal adviser.
Jorgensen said the unnamed plaintiff is withdrawing his participation due to concerns regarding his personal and familial safety.
He said plaintiff “Jane Roe” is also likely to withdraw.
He noted “their likelihood of being subjected to emotional distress, including but not limited to retaliatory, vindictive, retributive misconduct — and prospect of public detraction/degradation similar to that orchestrated, initiated, and perpetuated by CNMI officials upon others in efforts and aim to personally and professionally undermine such persons as former Office of Insular Affairs head Allen Stayman, human rights supporter Wendy Doromal, and former U.S. Ombudsman James Benedetto — should the continued anonymity as to the John Doe plaintiff be precluded in the wake of the U.S. District Court’s ruling of Jan. 25, 2010.”
Jorgensen said Price is a CNMI retiree and current Fund beneficiary.
Price, Jorgensen added, is keenly familiar and knowledgeable about U.S. court proceedings and has expressed his support to his fellow retirees and Fund beneficiaries.
He said six other attorneys who were formerly employed by the CNMI government have expressed willingness to join the case as plaintiffs.
The Superior Court awarded the Retirement Fund $231 million in unpaid contributions by the CNMI government as of April 2009.
Jorgensen is asking the federal court to place the local pension agency under federal equity receivership.
He said all of the members of the Retirement Fund board of trustees are political appointees beholden to the Fitial administration.
